Cover Secure a trip from Manila to Paris non-stop! The Department of Transportation (DOTr) announced that starting December 2024, Filipinos can fly straight to the city of love through Air France–KLM (Photo: Getty Images)
Secure a trip from Manila to Paris non-stop! The Department of Transportation (DOTr) announced that starting December 2024, Filipinos can fly straight to the city of love through Air France–KLM (Photo: Getty Images)
1 / 1
Secure a trip from Manila to Paris non-stop! The Department of Transportation (DOTr) announced that starting December 2024, Filipinos can fly straight to the city of love through Air France–KLM
Many Filipinos dream of travelling to Paris without a hassle—given the long distance, travel time, and inconvenience of connecting flights, it's easy to see why.
Two decades ago, the country used to host flights that transferred passengers straight to the city of love in one go. It did so through Air France, which operated until it merged with KLM in 2004.
This month, the aviation company will once again serve its Filipino customers, using the Airbus A350-900 to link Manila’s Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) with its Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport hub.
In case you missed it: 9 alternative European destinations for your travels this 2024
Above Manila to Paris: French Ambassador Marie Fontanel (Photo: Getty Images)
Manila to Paris: French Ambassador Marie Fontanel (Photo: Getty Images)
1 / 1
In a press briefing on September 10, French ambassador Marie Fontanel said the move would end “an anomaly” between the Philippines and France. She added that the embassy is already preparing for a rise in French visa applications in Manila.
“In terms of foreign direct investment [this route helps] by removing a psychological barrier to trade and boosting the interest of French and European investors in a particularly dynamic Philippine market,” said Fontanel.
The route, which will begin on December 8, 2024, started getting sales in September, just three months before its inaugural flight. Estimated to be 14 hours long, the trips are scheduled every Tuesday, Thursday, and Sunday.
More from Tatler: The cultural wanderer’s guide to Kyoto, Japan
Above Manila to Paris flights are easier starting December 2024 (Photo: Unsplash)
Manila to Paris flights are easier starting December 2024 (Photo: Unsplash)
1 / 1
According to DOTr secretary Jaime Bautista, the flight will enhance convenience for travellers by eliminating layovers.
“I think this is quite an important one. I think it’s an announcement that will make Filipinos happy because they can fly non-stop from the Philippines to Paris. From Paris to the Philippines,” DOTr secretary Jaime Bautista said during a Malacanang press conference.
Air France’s introduction of Manila will be its fifth new route for the winter 2024 to 2025 season. The airline company also plans to open routes for Salvador de Bahia, Brazil, with three flights a week starting October 28; Kilimanjaro, Tanzania, with three flights a week starting November 18, extending from Zanzibar; Malé, Maldives, with up to two flights a week starting December 20; and Kiruna, Sweden, with one flight a week starting December 21.
NOW READ
The cultural wanderer’s guide to Binondo, Manila
Got travel plans? 9 alternative Southeast Asian destinations 2024
Jove holds a degree in Journalism and is currently pursuing graduate studies in Philosophy at the University of the Philippines–Diliman. She has flair for in-depth, interview-driven stories that explore politics and culture, shaped by her background in national broadsheets.
When she’s not on assignment, Jove spends her days painting, sipping lemonade, and walking her dog, Jupiter. She can often be seen in Escolta with a film camera in hand, browsing novelty shops in search of rare memorabilia. For leads, reach her at Jove@tatlerphilippines.com.
